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United States Patent |
5,623,200
|
Ogino
|
April 22, 1997
|
Particle measuring apparatus and particle measuring method by the
apparatus
Abstract
Particle measuring apparatus 1 comprising slide plate 3 set between tanks
2a and 2b and having through-holes 8 to 11 passing through slide plate 3
and a pair of electrodes 4a and 4b, wherein through-holes 8 to 11 on slide
plate 3 are formed by a group of through-holes with different diameters.
When one of the through-holes 8 to 11 is brought to a position
corresponding to connective holes 2c and 2d by driving unit 7, particle
distribution is measured and analyzed in accordance with the electrical
impedance when a sample suspension passes through the through-hole.
Inventors:
|
Ogino; Shinichi (Kobe, JP)
|
Assignee:
|
Toa Medical Electronics Co., Ltd. (Hyogo-ken, JP)
|
Appl. No.:
|
436568 |
Filed:
|
May 8, 1995 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S. Class: |
324/71.4; 73/865.5; 324/699 |
Intern'l Class: |
G01N 015/02 |
Field of Search: |
324/699,71.4
73/865.5
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
3783376 | Jan., 1974 | Doniguian.
| |
3958177 | May., 1976 | Reeves et al.
| |
4471297 | Sep., 1984 | Berg | 324/71.
|
4760328 | Jul., 1988 | Groves | 324/71.
|
4901024 | Feb., 1990 | Miyake et al. | 324/71.
|
5376878 | Dec., 1994 | Fisher | 324/71.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
2145531 | Mar., 1973 | DE | 324/71.
|
611319 | Jun., 1978 | SU | 324/71.
|
907028 | Sep., 1962 | GB | 324/71.
|
2232769 | Dec., 1990 | GB.
| |
Primary Examiner: Noland; Thomas P.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A particle measuring apparatus, comprising:
a first sample vessel;
a second sample vessel;
a slide plate having at least one first through-hole having a first
diameter and at least one second through-hole having a second diameter,
said slide plate being selectively movable at least between a first
position connecting said first and second sample vessels through said at
least one first through-hole and a second position connecting said first
and second sample vessels through said at least one second through-hole;
and
electrodes arranged in said first and second sample vessels, said
electrodes contacting with a sample suspension in said first and second
sample vessels to measure an electrical impedance generated when the
sample suspension passes through selected one of said first and second
through-holes and to measure particles in the sample suspension based on
the detected electrical impedance.
2. The particle measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
first and second through-holes are arranged almost concentrically on said
slide plate and either one of said first and second positions can be
selected by rotating said slide plate.
3. The particle measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said
slide plate is rotated by an actuator.
4. The particle measuring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said
slide plate is rotated manually.
5. The particle measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
first and second through-holes are arranged on said slide plate primarily
in an axial direction thereof so that at least one of said first and
second positions can be selected by moving said slide plate along said
axial direction.
6. The particle measuring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said
slide plate is moved by an actuator.
7. The particle measuring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said
slide plate is moved manually.
8. The particle measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
slide plate has between two to twelve through-holes, each of said two to
twelve through-holes having a different diameter.
9. The particle measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least
one of said first and second through-holes is provided with a tapered
portion expanding outwardly at both ends thereof.
10. The particle measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least
portion of said slide plate where said first and said second through-holes
are formed is made of a stiff material.
11. The particle measuring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
said first sample vessel includes a first connective hole, said second
sample vessel includes a second connective hole, and said slide plate has
a protrusion opposing at least one of said first and second connective
holes and said first and second through-holes are formed at said
protrusion.
12. A particle measuring apparatus, comprising:
a first sample vessel;
a second sample vessel;
a slide plate having at least one first through-hole having a first
diameter and at least one second through-hole having a second diameter,
said slide plate being selectively movable at least between a first
position connecting said first and second sample vessels through said at
least one first through-hole and a second position connecting said first
and second sample vessels through said at least one second through-hole;
and
electrodes arranged in said first and second sample vessels, said
electrodes contacting with a sample suspension in said first and second
sample vessels to measure an electrical impedance generated when the
sample suspension passes through selected one of the through-holes and to
measure particles in the sample suspension based on the detected
electrical impedance; wherein
said slide plate includes a plurality of plates, one of said plurality, of
plates having said first and second through-holes and another of said
plurality of plates having through-holes different in diameter from said
first and second through-holes, one of said plurality of plates can be
selected in accordance with the size of particles in the sample suspension
by attaching and detaching said plates from outside.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1 . Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a particle measuring apparatus and a
particle measuring method by the apparatus, particularly to a particle
measuring apparatus and a particle measuring method by the apparatus for
measuring blood cells, or particles of latex or cement powder using the
electrical-impedance-change detection method for measuring particles in a
sample suspension in accordance with a change of electrical impedance by
passing the sample suspension through a through-hole.
2. Prior Arts
To measure the particle-diameter distribution of blood cells in blood or
industrial particles of cement powder and latex, particle-diameter
distribution measurement using the electrical-resistance-change detection
method has been performed. In the case of this measurement, a slide plate
having a through-hole through which a sample suspension can pass is
arranged at a connective portion of a sample vessel to measure and analyze
particles passing through the through-hole as disclosed for example, in
U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,376. A particle-diameter distribution is obtained by
measuring the number of particles by the number of signal pulses generated
when particles pass through the through-hole and the volume of a particle
by the pulse height. In the case of the above disclosed example, one
through-hole is bored on one slide plate.
In the case of the electrical-resistance-change detection method, because a
change of the electrical resistance of a sample suspension when a particle
passes through the sample suspension is linearly measured, the intensity
of signal to be penetrated is proportional to the volume of the particle.
However, measurable particle diameter is limited by the through-hole
diameter. For example, when the diameter of a particle decreases to 1/30
the through-hole diameter or less, it is difficult to separate a particle
signal from noise. On the contrary, when the particle is too large, the
through-hole is clogged and thereby the particle is prevented from passing
through the through-hole.
Thus, accurate measurement cannot be made. Therefore, to measure samples
having a wide particle-distribution, it is necessary to prepare slide
plates having through-holes with different diameters and to manually
remove and replace slide plates having selected through-holes one by one.
Therefore, operation becomes complex and this prevents measurement from
being quickly performed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a particle measuring
apparatus and a particle measuring method using the
electrical-resistance-change detection method while simplifying the
replacement of slide plates and having a high measurement accuracy.
The particle measuring apparatus of the present invention comprises a slide
plate movably set between two sample vessels and having through-holes
connecting these vessels and a pair of electrodes arranged in both vessels
and capable of contact with a sample suspension to be transferred to the
sample vessels in order to measure the electrical impedance generated when
the sample suspension passes through one of the through-holes by these
electrodes and measure particles in the sample suspension in accordance
with the electrical impedance; wherein the through-holes on the slide
plate are formed by a group of optional through-holes with different
diameters.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, it is also possible to use a structure
in which the through-holes are almost concentrically arranged on the slide
plate so that a through hole having appropriate diameter can be selected
by being rotated from the outside. Moreover, it is possible to use a
structure in which the through-holes are primarily arranged in one axial
direction on a slide plate so that they can be selected by being moved in
one axial direction from the outside.
The diameter of the through-holes is varied depending upon the object of
the measurement. In the measurement of blood cells for example, it is
preferably 50 .mu.m to 3 mm.
It is preferable that the slide plate has two to twelve through-holes, each
having different diameter, more preferably, the number of through-holes is
four to six.
Possibly, a plurality of plates having through-holes different in minimum
and/or maximum diameter from each other are preferred and can be selected
in accordance with the size of particles in the sample suspension by being
attached and detached from the outside.
It is preferable that each through-hole bored portion on the slide plate
has a tapered plane expanding outward at both ends of the hole. Thereby,
an advantage is obtained that electric fields are prevented from
excessively concentrating on the margin of a through-hole. In this case,
the tapered plane includes C plane shaded so that the cross section
becomes a straight line, R plane shaped so that the cross section becomes
a curve, or paraboloid.
It is preferable that at least the through-hole bored portion on the slide
plate is made of a stiff material such as ruby, sapphire or ceramic.
Thereby, advantages are obtained that smooth boring can be made and
through-holes can be bored accurately. It is possible to form the whole
slide plate with the above materials or form only the through-hole bore
portion with the above material.
It is preferable that the slide plate is provided with a protrusion
adhering to a sample vessel and that the through-hole is bored at the
protrusion. Thereby, advantages are obtained that the contact area between
the slide plate and the sample vessel decreases and reduced friction and
abrasion at the time of sliding.
The particle measuring method of the present invention comprises a first
measurement step for passing a sample suspension through a first
through-hole bored on a slide plate set between two sample vessels,
measuring the electrical impedance generated when the sample suspension
passes through the first through-hole, and measuring particles in the
sample suspension in accordance with a change of the electrical impedance
and, a second measurement step for passing the sample suspension through a
second through-hole bored on the slide plate, measuring the electrical
impedance when the sample suspension passes through the second
through-hole, and measuring particles in the sample suspension in
accordance with a change of the electrical impedance; further comprising a
through-hole selection and change step for changing the passages of the
sample suspension from the first through-hole to the second through-hole
by selecting one through-hole out of a group of through-holes having a
diameter different from that of the first through-hole as a second
through-hole by sliding the slide plate, between the first measurement
process and the second measurement step.
In the case of the particle measuring method, it is preferable that this
second through-hole selected in the second measurement step has a diameter
smaller than that of the first through-hole. Thereby, an advantage is
obtained that large to small particles can be measured in steps one by
one.
It is preferable to use a blood sample as the sample suspension and measure
blood cells in the blood sample.
To measure particles by the particle measuring apparatus of the present
invention, first, a sample suspension is passed through a first
through-hole bored on a slide plate set between two sample vessels to
measure the electrical impedance generated when the sample suspension
passes through the first through-hole and determine particles in the
sample suspension in accordance with a change of the electrical impedance
(first measurement step). Then, the passages of the sample suspension are
changed from the first through-hole to a second through-hole by selecting
one through-hole with a diameter different from that of the first
through-hole from a group Of through-holes as the second through-hole in
accordance with the measurement result in the first measurement step and
sliding the slide plate (through-hole selection and change step).
Then, the electrical impedance when the sample suspension passes through
the second through-hole bored on the slide plate is determined and
particles in the sample suspension are measured in accordance with a
change of the electrical impedance (second measurement step). By setting
the through-hole selection and change process so that the second
through-hole has a diameter smaller than that of the first through-hole,
it is possible to quickly measure particles having a wide particle
distribution.
The particle measuring apparatus of the present invention makes it possible
to easily change through-holes and quickly measure a particle distribution
covering a wide range by rotating the slide plate from the outside or
moving them in one axial direction from the outside.
When each through-hole bored portion on a slide plate has a tapered plane
expanding outward at both ends of the hole, excessive concentration of
electric fields is prevented and the measurement accuracy improved.
Moreover, by forming at least the through-hole bored portion on the slide
plate with ruby, sapphire, or ceramic, a through-hole can be bored
accurately. Furthermore, by constituting the slide plate so that it is
provided with a protrusion adhering to a sample vessel and a through-hole
bored at the protrusion, the contact area between the slide plate and the
sample vessel decreases and the friction and abrasion at the time of
sliding are decreased.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the particle measuring apparatus of
an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of a slide plate of the particle measuring apparatus
as shown by FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a measuring method of an embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 4 is a graph showing an example of a measurement and analysis result
of a particle distribution obtained by the measuring method in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a graph showing an example of a measurement and analysis result
of a particle distribution obtained by the measuring method in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a graph showing an example of a measurement and analysis result
of a particle distribution obtained by the measuring method in FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a graph showing an example of a measurement and analysis result
of a particle distribution obtained by the measuring method in FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is a front view showing another embodiment of the slide plate of the
particle measuring apparatus;
FIG. 9 is a side view of the slide plate in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a particle measuring apparatus
using the slide plate in FIG. 8;
FIG. 12 is a front view showing a slide plate of a particle measuring
apparatus as another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a side view of the slide plate in FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram showing the particle measuring
apparatus as still another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a front view of the slide plate of the particle measuring
apparatus in FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a front view showing another embodiment of the slide plate in
accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 17 is a side view of the slide plate in FIG. 16;
FIG. 18 is a front view showing still another embodiment of the slide plate
corresponding to FIG. 16;
FIG. 19 is a side view of the slide plate in FIG. 18;
FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram of the particle measuring apparatus of
still another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 21 is a front sectional view of the slide plate of still another
embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the slide plate of still another
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 shows the particle measuring apparatus of an embodiment of the
present invention. The particle measuring apparatus 1 comprises mainly
sample vessel 2 and slide plate 3. Sample vessel 2 comprises two tanks 2a
and 2b and connective holes 2c and 2d faced each other are bored at the
bottom of tanks 2a and 2b respectively. Moreover, a pair of electrodes 4
comprising pole plates 4a and 4b are arranged in tanks 2a and 2b
respectively. Furthermore, a sample suction pipe 5 is inserted into tank
2b.
Slide plate 3, as shown in FIG. 2, is a disk made of ruby or ceramic with
an outside diameter of 40 mm and a thickness of 5 mm and driving unit 7 is
attached to central hole 3a through driving shaft 6. Driving unit 7 uses a
motor such as a stepping motor or DC motor. Four through-holes 8 to 11
each having different diameters are concentrically arranged on slide plate
3 at almost equal intervals. Through-hole 8 has a diameter of 3 mm and a
particle measuring area of 150 to 1,200 .mu.m, through-hole 9 has a
diameter of 800 .mu.m, and a particle measuring area of 40 to 320 .mu.m,
through-hole 10 has a diameter of 200 .mu.m and a particle measuring area
of 10 to 80 .mu.m, through-hole 11 has a diameter of 50 .mu.m and a
particle measuring area of 2.5 to 20 .mu.m.
slide plate 3 is movably arranged between tanks 2a and 2b so that
through-holes 8 to 11 correspond to connective holes 2c and 2d . Thereby,
tanks 2a and 2b connect with each other due to movement of slide plate 3
by driving unit 7, when through-holes 8 to 11 are located at positions
corresponding to connective holes 2c and 2d.
Pole plates 4a and 4b are connected with power source 12, signal detector
13, and analyzer 14. Moreover, fluid controller 15 for passing a sample
filled in sample vessel 2 is connected inside tank 2a . Fluid controller
15 is connected with one end of sample suction pipe 5 and filter 16.
Fluid controller 15 is able to pass a sample filled into sample vessel 2 to
tank 2b through sample suction pipe 5 by a not-illustrated control unit
and moreover to regulate particle diameters of the sample filled into
sample vessel 2 by leading the sample to filter 16 being driven with a
not-illustrated control unit.
Moreover, it is possible to form an optional number of through-holes on
slide plate 3. When using the above motor rotating at equal rotation
angles, it is preferable to form a group of 2 to 12 through-holes with
different diameters.
Particle measuring apparatus 1 of this embodiment performs measurement in
accordance with the following operation. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing
the measuring procedure. First, initialization is performed in step S1.
Then, one of the through-holes 8 to 11 corresponding to the particle
diameter of a sample to be measured is selected in step S2 and the
through-hole is moved to a position corresponding to connective holes 2c
and 2d . In this case, through-hole 8 (diameter of 300 .mu.m) is selected
which has the largest diameter among through-holes 8 to 11.
It is possible to use a generally known means as the setting means for
correctly setting one of the through-holes 8 to 11 to a predetermined
position and the detection means for detecting the setting position. For
example, a through-hole can be set to a correct position by detecting the
home position of slide plate 3 by combining a contact member with a
microswitch and reading the rotation angle of slide plate 3 by the number
of steps of the motor serving as driving unit 7 (in the case of a stepping
motor) or reading the rotation angle by a rotary encoder connected to the
motor.
Next, in step S3, a suspension sample of approx. 10 ml to be measured is
filled into sample vessel 2, then the sample is passed into tank 2b
through sample suction pipe 5 by driving fluid controller 15. Thereby, the
sample passes through through-hole 8. The sample passed into tank 2b is
discharged outside the system from sample suction pipe 5.
In step S4, particles of the sample passing through through-hole 8 are
measured and analyzed. A particle distribution is measured and analyzed by
analyzer 14 by assuming the number of particles as the number of pulses
and the volume of a particle as the pulse height. The result of measuring
and analyzing the particle distribution using through-hole 8 is displayed
on a screen in the form of a graph as shown in FIG. 4. (From this analysis
result, it is estimated that particles with a particle diameter of approx.
150 .mu.m or less are also present.)
Then, in step S5, the operator decides whether a particle with a diameter
of 300 .mu.m or less is measured in accordance with the measurement result
of the particle distribution in step S4. When a particle with a diameter
of 300 .mu.m or less is measured, the step shifts from S5 to S6 and the
operator decides whether or not to filter the sample. To filter the
sample, the sample is filtered in step S7. When filtering of the sample is
completed, the step shifts from S7 to S2 and slide plate 3 is rotated so
that a through-hole with a smaller diameter can be set. In this case,
through-hole 8 is changed to through-hole 9. Hereafter, measurement is
continued in the same manner to successively set a through-hole with a
smaller diameter.
When the operator decides in S6, not to filter the sample, the step shifts
from S6 to S8. In step S8, it is decided whether to measure the sample
again without filtering the sample. When the decision in step S8 is YES,
the step shifts to S2. Moreover, when no particle with a diameter of 300
.mu.m or less is detected from the particle measurement result in step S4
and the decision in step S8 is NO, the step shifts to S9 and the operator
decides whether or not to complete the measurement. When the operator
decides to complete the measurement, sample vessel 2 is washed and the
measurement is completed. When continuing measurement of the sample, the
step shifts from S9 to S1. FIGS. 5 to 7 show the particle diameter
measurement results obtained from the above measurement by setting the
through-holes 9 to 11 respectively.
Embodiment 2
In the case of embodiment 1, through-holes 8 to 11 on slide plate 3 are
bored with constant diameter through slide plate 3 for each through-hole
bored portion. However, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, it is also possible to
form tapered planes 18a to 21a expanding outward at both ends of
through-holes 18 to 21 respectively. In this case, tapered planes 18a to
21a are C planes, that is, planes whose cross section is shaped with a
straight line having the same tilt angle which is preferred to be a tilt
angle of 30.degree. to 60.degree. and most preferred to be 45.degree.. It
is also possible to form tapered planes 18a to 21a by R plane, that is, a
plane whose cross section is shaped with a curve. In this case, it is
preferable to set the radius of curvature of the R plane to 10 to 50 .mu.m
though it depends on the through-hole diameter. Moreover, as shown in FIG.
10, it is preferable to form the R plane so that the ratio of diameter to
through-hole length D/L comes to 1/1.2 to 1/1.4. In this case, however, if
the ratio D/L is too large, an electric field at the opening of the hole
is unevenly formed and the proportional relation between particle volume
and pulse height is not effected. On the contrary, if the ratio D/L is too
small, there occurs a problem when a plurality of particles enter the
through-hole.
Embodiment 3
In the case of embodiment 1, the bored plane of through-holes 8 to 11 on
slide plate 3 are formed flat. However, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, it is
also possible to form protrusion 22a on the main surface of slide plate 22
around the through-hole opening. In this case, protrusion 22a becomes
annular. Thereby, it is possible to decrease the friction and abrasion at
the time of sliding by decreasing the contact area between slide plate 3
and sample vessel 2. Furthermore, it is preferable to set the height of
protrusion 22a to about 0.1 to 1 mm.
Embodiment 4
Embodiment 1 is constituted so that a through-hole can be selected by
rotating slide plate 3 from the outside. However, as shown in FIGS. 14 and
15, it is also possible to use a structure in which through-holes 31 to 34
can be selected by forming slide plate 30 into a rectangle, and linearly
arranging through-holes 31 to 34 on slide plate 30 primarily in one axial
direction, and moving plate 30 in one axial direction from the outside.
Here, the thorough-holes are formed in the longitudinal direction of slide
plate 30 in order of size of diameters. A driving unit for moving slide
plate 30 in one axial direction can be constituted by connecting a ball
screw to the rotary shaft of a DC motor through a coupling and connecting
shaft 10 to a moving plate engaged with the ball screw (not illustrated).
This structure makes it possible to measure and analyze the particle
distribution of a sample in accordance with the measurement procedure
described in embodiment 1.
As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, it is also possible to form tapered planes 31a
to 34a (C plane or R plane) expanding outward at both ends of the opening
of through-holes 31 to 34 on slide plate 30. In this case, tapered planes
3la to 34a are formed by C plane with a tilt angle of approx. 45.degree.
so that the ratio D/L comes to 1/1.2 to 1/1.4 similarly to the above.
Thereby, electric fields are prevented from extreme concentration on the
margins of the opening of through-holes 8 to 11.
Moreover, it is possible to form consecutive linear protrusions 30a around
the opening of through-holes 31 to 34 on the main surface of slide plate
30. Thereby, it is possible to decrease friction and abrasion at the time
of sliding by reducing the contact area between slide plate 30 and sample
vessel 2.
Embodiment 5
In the case of embodiment 1, the movement of a sample is assumed to be
almost horizontal. However, FIG. 20 shows a structure of a particle
measuring apparatus using the so-called electrical-resistance-change
detection method of the sheath flow system in which measurement particles
are covered with a particle-free liquid called a sheath liquid and
thereafter aligned by using a hydrodynamic focusing and measured.
The existing electrical-resistance-change detection method has
disadvantages in that a difference occurs between the intensities of
detection signals depending on the position in a through-hole when a
particle is passing through, two or more particles adjacently passing
through a through-hole are judged as one particle, or the velocity of
particles suddenly decreases after passing through a through-hole or
noises are generated by the fact that particles passing through a
through-hole stagnate around a through-holes, problems caused by
neighboring passage of sample particles through a through-hole. This
embodiment is constituted so as to control the neighboring passage of
sample particles through a through-hole by using the sheath flow system.
A suspension sample prepared by sample controller 35 is discharged from
sample nozzle 36, passes through through-hole 39, and is collected with
sample suction pipe 37. In the case of the sheath flow method, the sheath
liquid comes in from front sheath intake port 38 and moves in a manner to
enclose sample nozzle 36.
The suspension sample discharged from sample nozzle 36 is slowly focused
while being enclosed with the front sheath liquid and particles of the
suspension sample are aligned when passing through through-hole 39.
Moreover, a back sheath liquid for enclosing the particles passing through
through-hole 39 and leading them to sample suction pipe 37 is introduced
from back sheath liquid intake port 40. Thereby, it is possible to reduce
the problem that the particle passing through through-hole 39 stagnates
around through-hole 39 due to the sudden decrease of velocity.
Embodiment 6
In the case of the above mentioned embodiments 1 to 5, a structure is shown
in which a slide plate is moved by a driving unit. In the case of this
embodiment, however, a structure in which a through-hole can be selected
by manually moving the slide plate is shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. In FIG.
21, slide plate 45 is rotatably supported by bearing 42 through shaft 41
and moreover, a handle for the operator to manually rotate slide plate 45
is formed.
In FIG. 22, handle 44 is formed on slide plate 46. Thereby, an operator can
set optional through-holes to a measuring position one by one by rotating
handle 43 or moving handle 44 in one axial direction.
It is possible to adjust the position of a through-hole while monitoring
the information for through-hole position by using, for example, an
encoder for rotation or linear movement. Moreover, it is possible to
reliably perform the positioning of a through-hole by combining a ball
plunger having an energized ball with a recess for holding the ball.
In these embodiments, through-holes can be changed successively by rotating
a slide plate from the outside or moving it in one axial direction.
Therefore, it is possible to quickly and easily set a through-hole to a
measuring position. These embodiments are particularly effective for
measurements in which particle distribution covers a wide range.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
The present invention makes it possible to quickly and easily set a
through-hole to a measuring position because through-holes on a slide
plate are formed by a group of plural optional through-holes with
different diameters.
Moreover, the present invention makes it possible to quickly and easily set
a through-hole to a measuring position because through-holes are almost
concentrically arranged on a slide plate and they can be selected by
rotating the slide plate from the outside.
Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to quickly and easily
set a through-hole to a measuring position because through-holes are
arranged primarily in one axial direction on a slide plate and they can be
selected by moving the slide plate in one axial direction from the
outside.
Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to obtain a high
measurement accuracy because each through-hole bored portion of the slide
plate has a tapered plane expanding outward at both ends of each hole
opening and thereby an electric field is evenly formed at both opening
ends of a through-hole.
Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to smoothly bore a
hole and obtain a high measurement accuracy because at least the
through-hole bored portion on a slide plate is made of ruby, sapphire or
ceramic.
Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to decrease the
contact area between a slide plate and a sample vessel and decrease the
friction and abrasion at the time of sliding because the slide plate has a
protrusion adhering to the sample vessel and a through-hole is formed at
the protrusion. Therefore, it is possible to keep a high measurement
accuracy for a long time.
Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to quickly and easily
set a through-hole to a measuring position by providing a through-hole
selection and change process for selecting a through-hole out of a group
of through-holes having a diameter different from that of a first
through-hole as a second through-hole based on the measurement result of a
first measurement process and changing the passage of a sample suspension
from the first through-hole to the second through-hole by sliding a slide
plate between the first and second measurement processes.
Furthermore, the present invention makes it
possible to simplify the operation for changing through-holes stepwise one
by one correspondingly to particle distribution and Hick measurement
because the second through-hole selected in a second measurement process
has a diameter smaller than that of the first through-hole.
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